Kenya has unveiled an artificial intelligence system to monitor industrial emissions in real time, marking its latest effort to curb air pollution and strengthen environmental governance.
Air pollutants, such as methane and black carbon, contribute to climate change and ill health.
Although they remain in the atmosphere for relatively short periods, their global warming potential is often far greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Black carbon, a component of fine particulate matter, is one of the largest contributors to global warming after carbon dioxide. It absorbs sunlight, warms the atmosphere and accelerates the melting of snow and ice.
Methane, another short-lived pollutant, is 84 times more potent than CO₂ and is a precursor to ozone, which reduces agricultural yields and threatens food security.
To address these risks, authorities on Wednesday launched the Kenya Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (Kocems) at Boma Hotel.
The system, developed by United Platform Solutions Kenya Limited in collaboration with Nema under a public-private partnership, uses AI-enabled analytics and IoT-based sensors to track emissions from industrial facilities and transmit data to a centralised platform.
Environment CS Deborah Barasa, who presided over the launch, said the initiative represents a major step forward in transparency, compliance and evidence-based policymaking.
“This milestone marks an important step in strengthening environmental governance in Kenya through technology-driven monitoring, transparency and improved regulatory oversight,” she said.
Barasa said air pollution remains a major public health concern across Africa, contributing to more than 1.1 million premature deaths annually.
In Kenya alone, World Health Organization estimates link about 19,000 deaths each year to air pollution.
Through Kocems, Nema will have 24/7 visibility into emissions from factories, power plants, cement plants, refineries and other industrial facilities nationwide.
The system will also measure and analyse real-time data on air, water and noise pollution, with secure transmission to Nema’s headquarters and regional control rooms.
Barasa said industries will benefit from improved monitoring of their processes, enabling greater efficiency while reducing their environmental footprint.
She said the deployment supports resolutions adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly, which call for stronger action on air pollution.
Kenya has also reaffirmed its global climate commitments by submitting its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent by 2035.
The country’s total emissions have risen from 56.8 Metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) in 1995 to 93.7 MtCO₂e in 2015 and are projected to reach 143 MtCO₂e by 2030 as it pursues the Vision 2030 development agenda.
